to buy my DDs beds for Christmas

[cathkidstonbag]

3 DDs, all of them will be sort of in need of new bed in the next year or so (eg youngest needs to move from junior to single etc) and a few weeks ago they all said they'd like Father Christmas to get them new beds this year!
I actually think its a good idea - we're already changing traditions and staying home for Christmas day this year and they have more than enough stuff! I could imagine them talking about "the year we all got beds" when they are adults and obviously I'd get them new duvets, cushions etc.
DH thinks its an awful idea, children should have toys etc (says the man who doesn't buy or wrap any of it and then moans how many toys they've got!)

So AIBU?

I think it's a fab idea

I'd go the the n'th degree with it though: bundle all the girls in your bedroom xmas eve with dvds and a picnic supper, while you and DH build the beds, then new bedlinen on them, a stocking hung on the end of each one full of treats, then a little pile of associated presents incuding a second linen set, pjs, a hot water bottle (or PJ case if too young for HW bottle) and some new books/a board game.

Id cover the bedroom door with wrapping paper for them to 'unwrap' their gift on Xmas morning, and let them sleep in your bed that night (you and DH ma have to sleep in the lounge if girls too big for you to bunk in with them.

I think it is a lovely idea. You are right, they will remember it forever/ It is also a really easy present to jazz up with pyjamas, a new bed time story or two each, duvet sets, fairy light, wall stickers, lamps and stuff (if you can afford it).
My dd's would love this (ds would not be impressed though!)
Christmas is too much about who gets what imo, and we are cutting back thsi year, trying to think more about giving than getting, and most of their pressies from us will be useful.

It's a great idea - although in our household FC wouldn't get the credit as beds would be way beyond his budget (he only does stocking presents). DD got a bed for her 5th birthday - her other presents were all connected (new PJs, duvet cover, toy box, cuddly toy) - she was delighted. DS will be getting a desk, and similarly connected stuff. I don't see the problem.

perfect, and the kids want them. do it.

i would have loved it, myself!

LikeABlackFlame - Your idea is very magical and Christmassy. [hsmile]

My parents and I did a joint bed present for my two five or six years ago. They were delighted, cue lots of bouncing and leaping from bed to bed (L-shaped bunks). The year before my parents gave us a bed for Christmas. We were delighted too All beds still being slept in now.

YANBU

Our DS got a bunk bed last Christmas! He wanted one (tho not specifically for xmas) but there was nothing realyl wrong with his old single, he wanted a bunk so he could have sleepovers. He got other presents from family, no big deal!

Gosh.

When I was a child, a new bed, especially if it was a special cabin one or something, would have been an AMAZING present. In fact it probably would have been a birthday+Christmas present.

I might have got a new duvet cover from my Gran to go with it.

Personally I think all this talk of new lamps, etc is Over The Top.

Bed plus cover, if you can run to it, sounds like a great present - especially as that is what they want.

I'm another one who used to get given jumpers, shampoo, writing paper, etc at Christmas (from relatives). We didn't have a lot of money, but we did always get given one non-essential item from our parents. Some years it would be a big thing like a bike, other years much smaller.

I'm not a bah hambug type, I love Christmas, I just think the level of present giving is ridiculous.

So pleased to see your post Popadop!
I gave mine new bunk beds for xmas a few years back (they were 3 and 8 at the time)
Luckily they had been invited to a xmas party at our village hall on the 24th so I enlisted a handy friend (I'm a single mum) and we assembled the beds while they were out (cue Ground Force brass band music). They got home at 5pm on xmas eve to find their new beds in place, they were absolutely thrilled. They got a stocking and a few other things but I didn't spend more than £40 on them each.

I am annoyed that anyone has the nerve to judge you for thinking of this and implying that your kids won't have a nice xmas because of it. I bet your kids will have the best time of all, a new bed is quite a bit of kit after all. And the fact that your kids have asked for beds shows that you must have brought them up right, they're not asking for some overpriced corporate plastic gadget that will be obsolete in a year.

Have an early glass of mulled wine on me!

Thinking of it, the stocking probably cost about £10 each and then their other presents would have included things they needed (socks, soap etc). so their other presents came to about £15 I reckon. Sorry' it's just you got me thinking...
More mulled wine it's nearly November after all...

If they want them then it sounds a great idea.

Dh was given a bed when he was younger - maybe 10. However, it wasn't something he wanted, they needed a spare bed so thought they would use the old bed as the spare bed and give dh the new one which you can see the sense of.

However he was the youngest of 6 kids, all of whom had got beds to sleep in and none of them had had them as Xmas presents, they'd had Xmas presents that they wanted. Think he really wanted a bike as he'd grown out of his and there wasn't one of the right size to be handed down to him (you can imagine he got lots of stuff that worked it's way through the family!) and it was getting to the point where he couldn't ride it to school so was also something that he needed (he wasn't bothered about having a new bike, just one that he could ride, he lived in a village back in the day when kids did spend the day out on the bike, whereas his bed was fine for him, it was his parents that needed to get a spare bed). Final insult came when he moved out as a student and into digs where he needed a bed so he thought great, I have a bed that I was given for Xmas. But no, his parents wouldn't let him take it and said it wasn't his, just his to sleep in when he was a boy at home :(.

It still rankles him now in his mid 40s but I suspect it was more because it was a physical expression of how he was treated overall by his parents.

But if your kids need and want a bed then it is a great idea, especially if you can make it all special as others have suggested.

Just cornered eldest DD (she's 13 so I'm fully aware she doesn't still believe in FC) said to her that beds aren't that great an idea. What else would she want. She's rolled her eyes at me and said she KNOWS she won't get a bed but she would have liked one. Says there are a few books she wants and maybe some JW vouchers. That's hardly exciting is it? We get them books at Xmas anyhow and GP can stump up for vouchers for that stupidly overpriced shop!!!

Sod it I think I'm going to get them. First year in 14 we haven't had to drive to family and we can be on our own. What better way than with a screwdriver and ikea flat pack instructions!!!

DH says its too expensive but he has no idea how much we spend on them at Christmas usually!!!

Awww bless your dd at thinking she won't get new bed becasue of the cost rather than because some people on mumsnet deem beds as not acceptable christmas presents. She sounds lovely :) You HAVE to get them beds now, with lovely new duvet covers and pjs.

TBH I think it's awful that there's so much talk of clothes/ beds/ even computers etc not being 'for christmas', some of the kids I work with at school who have to sleep on the sofa/mattress on the floor would be over the moon to get a bed or new clothes and that's in this country not some third world country! People take so much for granted nowadays :( (ps sorry for the rant!)

Well they'd need the beds anyway wouldn't they? So expense is by the by. Go for it :)

caths kids

have just ordered 3 new beds for delivery after xmas so lol all mine be getting is a picture of their new bed oh and new duvet covers for said bed but they have had fun narrowing down which bed they want .

ooo, even better that they don't think they'll get the beds enjoy it, they'll love it

My DC got a cupboard each last year from my mum and stepdad. They each jeep their favourite things in it: lego and craft stuff. Best present they got. Better than the lego and craft stuff, which really just added to the pile...

I do agree that school shoes is not a good christmas present - they are likely to be fairly plain and not 'fun' at all. But if the OP's girls want new beds, and are going to get presents from other people too, then I see nothing wrong with the idea.

In general, there is nothing wrong with a 'practical' present (slow cooker, bed etc) as long as it is what the recipient wants! I got a little chest of drawers (with wicker basked drawers) last year, because I needed somewhere nice to keep all my knitting yarn - that was a practical gift, and I love it. One year, my parents got me a pair of boots for christmas and birthday (my birthday is less than 2 weeks before christmas), and jokingly said one boot was for birthday, the other for christmas - and that was fine by me! I got other things on my birthday, and didn't mind waiting until christmas for the boots.

But another year, my mum put knitting needles and yarn in my stocking so I could knit a scarf for my dad - which did upset me, as I felt it was a present for him, not me - and then, when I got up the courage to say this to mum, she guilt-tripped me into keeping the gift.

I suppose what I am saying is that it is all about how it is done, and what the recipient actually wants.

Oh - and incidentally, popadop has started an AIBU thread about this one -she's miffed because you haven't agreed with her, so apparently most people who post on AIBU tend to be sheep who just go with the initial opinions on a thread. Charming, that.

Yes I have seen that thread. Oh well, I am sure a lot of people in RL will tell me beds are crap gifts too. But the general consensus seemed to think it was okay as DDs want them so ill go with the sheep :)

...Yea and why don't you get them an exciting chest of draws and a dirty clothes basket aswell!!!

YABU

A bed is a necessary item which you should be buying anyway. IMO it is not a present for a child.

If you wantg to scale back on presents then fine but I think it is very to call a bed a Christmas present! Nice bedding, cushions etc maybe (if misexed with other presents) but not the bed itself.

*mixed

Go for it - my DSS is getting bedroom furniture as part of his Xmas present this year because we can't afford to get it and a big toy. I think sneering at people buying 'practical' presents is pretty smug but hey - there's bound to be people who don't know what life is like for most people right now. Perhaps they'll set up a lovely patronising fund to send your kids presents they deem suitable!

Proud foot - you're right. Bed is essential. They have them and will have outgrown/need new in next year or 2. At which time they will get basic bed. They have all said how they'd like to get really fancy beds for Xmas. I didn't suggest it, youngest DD started it by seeing a flexa bed she liked and musing if maybe FC could buy it.
At first I thought it was ridiculous but the idea has grown on me. Mainly because they want it and don't think they stand a chance of getting it and also because frankly the idea of not drowning in a sea of plastic tat appeals to me!
They would still get their usual stocking and books from us and a multitude of gifts from GPs friends etc. They will have plenty to open.